2 Pedestrians Struck on Ashland Street

Ashland Street was closed for about a half-hour on Friday morning after two women were struck by a small pickup.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two women were struck by a small pickup truck while crossing Ashland Street late Friday morning.

Sgt. Albert Zoito said the two women were crossing the road between Quincy and Summer streets when they were hit by a gray southbound Toyota Tacoma with a Vermont plate at about 11:40 a.m.

"The condition of one is serious but not believed to be life-threatening at this time," he said. "The other is not life-threatening."

Both women, one with what Zoito described as a serious head injury, were taken from the scene by ambulance. Neither the pedestrians nor the driver of the pickup have yet been identified and, so far, no one has been cited in the accident. There are crosswalks at Quincy and Summer but not where the women were walking.

"Two people were hit by a vehicle while attempting to cross," Zoito said. "It is under investigation."

The Fire Department also responded and traffic was detoured for about a half-hour.

North Adams Firefighters Respond to Stove Fire

05:11PM / Monday February 11, 2019

Fire Chief Stephen Meranti photographs the controls of a stove that caught fire on Monday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters responded to a stove fire at 133 Reed St. on Monday afternoon.

The appliance was quickly removed from the house and the area ventilated. The A shift was initially called in to cover the station but the scene was cleared fairly quickly.

The call came in at about 3:30 p.m. Two trucks, police and Northern Berkshire EMS responded to the scene. Reed Street is located near the top of Gallup Street.

North Adams Firefighters Douse Basement Garage Fire

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff10:47PM / Thursday February 07, 2019

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters on Thursday responded to the third fire in a month on the north side of the city.

The early evening fire at 66 Harris St. forced the occupants to flee and destroyed much of the basement garage and scorched the siding above the garage door.

"The guys arrived on scene and saw the fire showing from the garage door," said Fire Chief Stephen Meranti. "They were able to access it very easily and contain it to the garage. ... We have smoke damage throughout the building but it's not major."

The garage incurred significant damage to the materials stored inside and to the wiring.

"The Sheetrock — the envelope you build for the garage — kept it in the garage area," he said. "So the building code works in separating the garage from the rest of the house."

The blaze extended up the south side of the single-family cape, scorching and melting the siding but not affecting the structure.

Meranti said it was not yet clear what had caused the fire and that the family would not be allowed back in that night. He said they had a place to go.

The incoming shift was called in to assist and the top part of Harris at the North Street intersection was closed off to traffic. The fire had been contained and firefighters were sifting through scene by 7:30 p.m.

This was the third house fire so far this year. A major structure fire on Jan. 7 at an apartment building on Houghton Street across from North left four families homeless; on Feb. 1, an attempt to thaw pipes with a blowtorch caused a basement fire at 129 North St. late that night. The owner and his family was able to get out of the building but the Victorian is currently uninhabitable.

Dog-Walking Pedestrian Struck by Car on Main Street

Staff Reports03:12PM / Monday February 04, 2019

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A man walking his two dogs across the top of Main Street was struck by a small sedan early Monday afternoon.

Although the man was standing and talking with emergency medical technicians and police officers, he was eventually taken by Northern Berkshire EMS for treatment of a shoulder injury. The two dogs, medium-to-large animals, were taken to Greylock Animal Hospital by the animal control officer to be checked out.

The pedestrian was apparently crossing where a crosswalk had been taken out years ago on the eastern side of the Main, Eagle and Ashland streets intersection.

"They were walking across the street and the car came around the corner making a left turn off of Eagle on to Main and hit the guy while he was walking," Sgt. Albert Zoito said. The pedestrian did not appear to be seriously injured he said. "A shoulder injury at this time that is all it looks like."

But, he said, one of the dogs appeared to be bleeding.

"The dogs are being checked out," he said. "I guess one of them was bleeding a little bit and might of got hit."

The operator of the vehicle gave information to the police and Zoito said charges are pending.

North Adams Fire Department also responded.

Pickup Truck Collides With Trestle Foundation in North Adams

Staff Reports08:25PM / Friday January 18, 2019

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A driver is facing charges after smashing head-on into the train trestle foundation on Church Street.

The accident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday and initially was reported as happening on Ashland Street.

The gray Dodge Dakota pickup was headed south on Church Street when it veered across the northbound lane to strike the corner of the massive stone block foundation. The truck incurred significant front-end damage.

Police say speed appeared to be a factor and that the driver would be facing charges. The driver was treated at the scene by Northern Berkshire EMS but not transported.

The southbound lane was kept open to allow the light traffic going both ways to get through. A tow truck had been called to the scene to remove the vehicle.

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